House Democrats are divided over a proposed vote that would force President Trump to remove U.S. forces from Lebanon amid Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah. The resolution, introduced by Rep. Rashida Tlaib, faces significant opposition within the party as lawmakers worry it may interfere with current U.S. efforts and appear unsupportive of Israel.
Key Facts
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) introduced a resolution requiring the U.S. military to leave Lebanon within seven days.
The resolution aims to limit President Trump’s ability to involve the U.S. in the Israel-Lebanon conflict.
Israel is conducting a prolonged ground operation in Southern Lebanon against Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group.
Many House Democrats are unhappy about being forced to vote on this measure.
Some Democrats fear the resolution could disrupt U.S. efforts to fight Hezbollah.
Leading Democrats on key committees (Meeks, Smith, Himes) are uncertain or leaning against the resolution.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has not fully reviewed the resolution and suggests it could be revised.
Supporters argue the U.S. should not provide unlimited aid to Israel amid civilian casualties in Lebanon.
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Senate Majority Leader John Thune has recently criticized President Donald Trump on several issues, signaling some disagreement between them. Thune expressed concerns about Trump's choice for acting director of national intelligence and opposed certain proposals by the president, though he continues to support many of Trump’s main goals.
Key Facts
John Thune has publicly disagreed with President Trump on recent controversies.
Trump appointed Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence despite Pulte lacking intelligence experience.
Thune said the intelligence director position should have professionals, not be “weaponized.”
Thune opposed Trump’s proposed $1.78 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, saying it “doesn’t pass the smell test.”
Thune defended a Senate parliamentarian when Trump wanted her fired over a ruling.
Thune disagreed with Trump’s endorsement of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over Senator John Cornyn.
Thune has supported Trump’s major policies like tariffs, immigration, and tax cuts.
Both the White House and Thune express a willingness to continue working together despite their differences.
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Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra are leading in California’s primary race for governor. Both are expected to advance to the November election, which is rare because it could be a direct contest between a Republican and a Democrat in a mostly Democratic state.
Key Facts
Steve Hilton, a Republican and former Fox News host, leads with 26.9% of the vote.
Xavier Becerra, a Democrat and former cabinet secretary, follows with 25.7% of the vote.
Both candidates have received over 1.1 million votes each.
Democrat Tom Steyer is in third place with 19.8% of the vote.
If elected, Becerra would be California’s first Latino governor; about 40% of the state’s population is Hispanic or Latino.
Hilton was endorsed by President Donald Trump and became a U.S. citizen in 2021.
California’s governor will manage a $4 trillion economy and face issues like water access, homelessness, and housing affordability.
California uses a unique primary system where all candidates run together and the top two go to the final election, regardless of party.
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Voters in Tuesday’s US primary elections chose candidates who will compete in the November midterm elections for key seats in the House and Senate. Several races in states like New Jersey, Iowa, and California could change party control and affect the balance of power.
Key Facts
Primaries took place across the US to select candidates for November’s midterm elections.
Democrats aim to flip critical districts in the House and Senate.
New Jersey Democrat Rebecca Bennett will challenge Republican Tom Kean Jr., who has been absent from Congress for months.
In Iowa, moderate Democrat Josh Turek won his primary and may increase Democrats’ chances in a Senate race after incumbent Joni Ernst decided not to run.
Democrats are targeting districts in traditionally Republican states like Iowa and swing districts in New Jersey.
California’s redrawn maps are giving Democrats an advantage in that state’s elections.
In Los Angeles, Democrat Karen Bass advanced in the mayoral primary with a close race among opponents.
The upcoming midterms are shaped by factors including President Donald Trump’s influence on Republican voters, economic concerns, and voters looking for change after 2024 losses for Democrats.
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Iowa's Democratic primary for Senate ended with Josh Turek winning, setting up a race against Republican Ashley Hinson in a seat Democrats haven't held since 2008. Democrats are focusing on Iowa's economic problems, including job losses and farm bankruptcies, to challenge Republican dominance in the state, which President Donald Trump won by 13 points in 2022.
Key Facts
Josh Turek won the Democratic Senate primary in Iowa against Zach Wahls.
Turek will face Republican Ashley Hinson in the fall election for a Senate seat.
Democrats have not won this Senate seat since 2008.
Iowa has seen economic difficulties, including a 6.1% drop in GDP in early 2025.
Agriculture and manufacturing sectors in Iowa are struggling, partly due to tariffs from President Trump’s policies.
Farm bankruptcies in Iowa increased by 220% in 2025 compared to the previous year.
Democrats have increased their on-the-ground campaign staff in Iowa from 8 eight years ago to 60 now.
President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance have visited Iowa to support Republican candidates this year.
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Funding for the CDC’s National Wastewater Surveillance System is being cut from $125 million to $25 million as part of President Donald Trump’s budget plan. This reduction comes while a new COVID-19 variant called BA.3.2, or "cicada," is spreading across the U.S., raising concerns about losing an important tool for tracking the virus’s spread.
Key Facts
The CDC’s wastewater surveillance program helps detect COVID-19 and other diseases by testing community sewage.
Funding for this program will drop from about $125 million a year to $25 million, ending support beyond September 30, 2026.
Experts warn cutting funding could harm early detection of outbreaks and increase future healthcare costs.
The "cicada" COVID-19 variant has been found in 25 states and may partly evade immunity from vaccines or past infections.
Symptoms of the cicada variant are similar to other COVID-19 cases but it does not appear to cause more severe illness.
Wastewater surveillance found the variant in multiple states including California, Louisiana, Maine, and Ohio.
Scientists debate whether vaccines should be updated to target this or other variants like XFG to better protect people.
The surveillance system is considered a cost-effective way to monitor virus spread and emerging health threats.
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A woman shares her experience of overcoming a 17-year heroin addiction after losing both parents within three months. The deaths forced her to face deep pain and loneliness, which helped her realize she could change her life and start healing.
Key Facts
The author battled heroin addiction from age 23 to 40.
Her parents died within three months of each other, which deeply affected her.
Before recovery, she struggled with poor hygiene, frequent arrests, and stealing to support her addiction.
She had a long criminal record and health issues from her drug use.
The loss of her parents left her feeling alone and led to suicidal thoughts.
After a year of grief, she had a moment of clarity where she realized she was responsible for her own life.
This realization gave her the power to start choosing life and change.
She reflects that her addiction began from loneliness and feeling trapped by expectations, not from trauma.
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Condoleezza Rice, director of Stanford University's Hoover Institution, has asked a student newspaper to retract a report claiming the institution received at least $3 million from a Chinese political figure linked to the military. The report, based on a whistleblower, raised concerns about foreign donations to U.S. universities and their possible influence, but Stanford and Rice deny the specific donor identification and call the report mistaken.
Key Facts
The Stanford Review published a report alleging Hoover Institution received $3 million from Chen Yuan, linked to a Chinese influence agency connected to the Chinese military.
The donation reportedly came through a San Francisco law firm, possibly to hide the true source.
Chen Yuan is said to have family ties to a founding Communist Party leader of China.
The Chinese organization mentioned, CAIFC, is described by the U.S. government as part of China’s top military political work department.
Condoleezza Rice strongly denied the report’s identification of the donor and called it a case of mistaken identity.
A Hoover scholar told the paper they were wrong before publication, but the story was published anyway.
Rice said Stanford’s legal office and government authorities, including the Department of Education and a House committee on China, have been informed about the issue.
Rice formally requested that the student newspaper withdraw the story immediately.
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A candidate supported by the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, Zach Lahn, won the Republican primary for Iowa governor against Randy Feenstra, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump. This is the first time in the 2026 midterm election cycle that a Trump-backed candidate has lost a primary.
Key Facts
Zach Lahn, backed by the MAHA movement, defeated Randy Feenstra in the Republican primary for Iowa governor.
Feenstra was endorsed by President Donald Trump and the Republican Governors Association.
Lahn focused his campaign on an “Iowa First” message with opposition to big agribusiness and agricultural subsidies.
MAHA has disagreed with President Trump on several major issues.
This loss is the first defeat for a Trump-backed candidate in the 2026 midterm primaries so far.
Conservative commentator Steve Deace noted that MAHA support is growing among Christian conservative voters.
Trump publicly called Feenstra “MAGA all the way” and promised full support before the primary.
Polls showed a tighter race than prediction markets expected, leading to a surprise outcome.
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Support for same-sex marriage in the U.S. has stopped growing and slightly decreased after many years of steady rise. A new Gallup poll shows fewer Republicans now support it, while Democrats and independents mostly remain steady in their views.
Key Facts
About 65% of U.S. adults now support legal same-sex marriage, down from 71% in recent years.
Only 37% of Republicans say same-sex marriage should be legal; 35% say gay and lesbian relations are morally acceptable.
Most Democrats and independents still support same-sex marriage and view these relationships as morally acceptable.
Support for same-sex marriage grew from 27% in 1996 to around 70% in recent years before the recent drop.
Since 2015, same-sex marriage has been legal nationwide due to a Supreme Court decision.
Over 800,000 same-sex couples were married by last year in the U.S.
Some states are introducing laws to ban same-sex marriage or refuse to recognize these unions, while others try to protect them.
The Supreme Court rejected a request last year to overturn the 2015 ruling legalizing same-sex marriage.
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President Donald Trump announced he will attend the rescheduled White House Correspondents' Dinner on July 24, after the original event in April was stopped early due to a shooting outside the venue. The dinner will be smaller, held at a new location with higher security to ensure safety.
Key Facts
The original White House Correspondents' Dinner on April 25 was cut short because of a shooting outside the Washington Hilton.
A gunman named Cole Tomas Allen fired shots and tried to get past security, leading to a lockdown and evacuation.
A Secret Service officer was hit by gunfire but was protected by a bulletproof vest and not seriously injured.
President Trump and Vice President JD Vance were quickly brought to safety by Secret Service agents.
The dinner will now take place on July 24 at the Waldorf Astoria on Pennsylvania Avenue instead of the Washington Hilton.
Organizers plan a smaller event with stronger security and new rules for access to prevent similar incidents.
Trump described attending the rescheduled dinner as a sign of strength and said it shows that violent actions won’t change their way of life.
Trump may deliver a similar speech to the one planned before the April event was stopped.
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The UFC will hold a large fight event on the White House South Lawn on June 14 to celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary. The event will cause significant damage to the grass, but it will be repaired quickly using pre-grown grass sod, at a cost of about $700,000 paid by the UFC.
Key Facts
The UFC event will take place on the White House South Lawn with around 5,000 people attending.
The event includes building an Octagon (fighting cage), staging, and seating, costing about $60 million in total.
The lawn will be heavily damaged due to the heavy equipment and foot traffic.
UFC’s CEO Dana White said his company will cover the full cost to replace the damaged grass.
The damaged turf will be removed and replaced with pre-grown sod, which allows fast restoration.
This repair method is commonly used in stadiums after concerts or events to quickly restore the field.
Using pre-grown sod rather than slower methods like reseeding is more expensive but faster.
Experts say the cost and approach are typical of major event restorations and the lawn will look normal soon after.
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The UK policing minister criticized guidance suggesting police should treat Black and white suspects differently, saying it creates the wrong impression. The guidance is under review after protests and arrests linked to a stabbing case in Southampton, where concerns about racism and police training have been highlighted.
Key Facts
The policing minister, Sarah Jones, said the anti-discrimination guidance gives the wrong impression but did not say training is ineffective.
The guidance aims to improve outcomes for ethnic minorities by responding to their specific needs, not by treating everyone exactly the same.
Protests occurred in Southampton after the sentencing of Henry Nowak’s killer, involving far-right speakers and some violence.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) announced a review of the anti-racism guidance.
Some politicians and parties, like Reform UK and Conservatives, criticize the guidance and want to change police practices.
Reform UK plans to enact an “equal treatment act” to remove race-based police actions and diversity policies.
The NPCC chair said they will consider changes to the guidance’s wording but want to keep improving policing quality.
The situation raises concern about reversing changes made after past investigations into racism in UK policing.
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A man named Henry Nowak died after being handcuffed by police during an incident where he said he had been stabbed. The death led to protests and rioting in Southampton, UK. Government officials condemned the rioting and called for a review of police anti-racism training and policies.
Key Facts
Henry Nowak died after being handcuffed by police; he had said he was stabbed.
Nowak’s killer was sentenced to life in prison.
Riots occurred in Southampton following the incident.
Two arrests were made during the riots: one for assaulting a police officer and one for possession of a weapon.
The policing minister urged people to remain calm and let justice take its course.
The Home Office plans to review a police anti-racism guidance document after criticism.
The guidance document aims to promote equality of police outcomes among ethnic groups but has been controversial.
Police chiefs are currently reviewing the anti-racism policy language.
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A recent Gallup poll shows that fewer Republicans support same-sex marriage than in previous years, dropping from 55% in 2021-2022 to 37% in 2026. While most Americans still back marriage equality, Republican support has declined to levels last seen in 2015.
Key Facts
Gallup polling found Republican support for same-sex marriage dropped from 55% in 2021-22 to 37% in 2026.
Overall American support for same-sex marriage has risen from 42% two decades ago to 65% today.
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the 2015 ruling legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide.
Some Republican politicians and conservative groups want the Supreme Court to reconsider the marriage equality decision.
President Donald Trump rolled back diversity and inclusion efforts and adopted policies limiting transgender rights during his second term.
Bipartisan support previously helped pass laws like the Respect for Marriage Act and resulted in key legal victories for LGBTQ+ rights.
Advocates stress that marriage equality affects many legal rights beyond social acceptance.
Conservative coalition groups continue efforts to oppose same-sex marriage, often citing children’s welfare as their reason.
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Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is defending new government tax changes amid criticism from opposition leader Angus Taylor and concerns from the Greens party about the government’s power to change tax rules. Labor aims to pass the tax laws quickly with help from the Greens, while the opposition tries to oppose most reforms except a tax offset for workers.
Key Facts
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese criticized opposition leader Angus Taylor by calling him “Temu Abbott,” likening him to former Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
Labor plans to fast-track budget tax changes through the lower house and hopes to pass them in the Senate soon.
The Greens support passing tax changes but worry the government has too much power to alter tax rules after the bill becomes law.
The opposition Coalition wants to accept a $250 tax offset for workers but reject most other tax reforms.
Albanese says the tax changes will help workers and first homebuyers by targeting complex tax arrangements like discretionary trusts.
The government admits house prices have risen 400% since 1999, making home ownership harder for young Australians.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers dismissed media reports about the government’s power to change tax details as normal practice in legislation.
Negotiations between Labor and the Greens continue, and the Greens have not yet decided whether to fully support the bill.
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Democrat Rebecca Bennett won the New Jersey Democratic primary and will compete against Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. in the November election for New Jersey's 7th Congressional District. Kean has been absent from Congress for nearly three months due to an undisclosed health issue.
Key Facts
Rebecca Bennett is a Democrat and a former Navy helicopter pilot.
Bennett won the Democratic primary for New Jersey's 7th Congressional District.
Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. will be Bennett's opponent in the general election.
Kean has not been in Congress for almost three months.
Kean’s absence is due to a health condition that has not been shared publicly.
Bennett criticized Kean for failing the communities in their district.
Voters in New Jersey also participated in Senate and other House races on the same day.
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CBS fired Scott Pelley, a longtime correspondent for its news program 60 Minutes, after he criticized new management during a staff meeting. The firing followed recent changes in leadership after CBS was bought by a company linked to supporters of President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
Scott Pelley was fired by CBS after calling Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss ineffective and criticizing the new producer's qualifications.
The new executive producer, Nick Bilton, accused Pelley of disrupting a staff meeting and showing disrespect.
Pelley said management asked him to include false information and bias, and claimed the network is changing to please President Donald Trump.
CBS's parent company Paramount was bought by Skydance Media, led by David Ellison, who supports Trump.
Bari Weiss was brought in as Editor-in-Chief in October after the ownership change in August.
Several 60 Minutes staff, including correspondents, have left the program recently amid this reshuffle.
The previous owner of Paramount settled a lawsuit from Donald Trump over a 60 Minutes interview with Vice President Kamala Harris.
The new ownership promised to show a wider range of political views on CBS.
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Republican Representative Andy Ogles apologized after a social media post on his account said "homosexuality has no place in America." He deleted the post, blamed a staff member, and said the message distracted from his political focus. The post sparked criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates and some Republicans, highlighting divisions within the party over LGBTQ+ issues.
Key Facts
Andy Ogles posted on social media that "homosexuality has no place in America" and wished followers "Happy Nuclear Family Month."
The post was linked to a Tennessee lawmakers' designation of June as Nuclear Family Month, which contrasts with Pride Month celebrations.
Ogles deleted the post and said a member of his communications team made the post without his approval; the staffer was reprimanded.
Former Representative George Santos, an openly gay Republican, said the post was hurtful and targeted him personally.
Republican Senator Ted Cruz defended LGBTQ+ people, saying homosexuality has always been part of humanity and consenting adults' behavior is private.
President Donald Trump supports several openly gay Republicans and has worked to remove some anti-LGBTQ+ language from the party platform.
George Santos, who responded to Ogles’ post, was expelled from Congress in 2023 after legal issues but remains a notable openly gay GOP figure.
Ogles represents Tennessee’s 5th District and is known for conservative political views, including strong social positions.
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Toby Doeden will move to a July 28 runoff election for the Republican nomination for South Dakota governor because no candidate got 35% of the vote in the primary. He will compete against another candidate from among Gov. Larry Rhoden, U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, and House Speaker Jon Hansen. The winner will face Democrat Dan Ahlers in the general election.
Key Facts
Toby Doeden is a businessman who owns car dealerships and rental properties in South Dakota.
Doeden has lent about $4 million to his own campaign.
Current Governor Larry Rhoden became governor after President Trump appointed former Gov. Kristi Noem to the Department of Homeland Security.
The Republican primary became bitter, with disagreements over taxes and spending.
A political group called Rushmore Principles spent over $1 million on ads against Rhoden.
Doeden and political groups supporting him said Johnson was not loyal enough to President Trump.
President Trump has not endorsed anyone in this race.
Democrats have not held the South Dakota governor’s office since the 1970s, and the Republican nominee is expected to win this year.
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